BigDogDaddy

BUMP ?????

Hard to tell about talent levels, I try to guage by past freshman and JV matches, but that's not a very good barometer. On that alone, I would give the nod to Franklin. With the exception of Campbell, for Franklin, I don't think the skill positions are going to be notables. War will be fought in the trenches. Simply a matter of who wants it the most!

I have never seen Golden Tate play. I look forward to this game! The main reason I want to see this game though is to see Courtney Coffey. Anybody that is a two-time state wrestling champion at 210lbs must be a beast on a football field as well. Could it be that PJPII hasn't utilized his talents well? Are their other hidden talents at PJPII? All I know of FRHS is that they came into Howard Gamble Stadium (Franklin) a 14 point dog, and put a first class butt-wipping on the former Class 5A runner-ups!

Don't think you will have the offensive stand outs of years past. I look for this to be a 14-9 type game. Lots of hard hitting. Mistakes (penalties) have been huge in past games. False starts on the part of Brentwood, Holding by Franklin. Last years poor call by the referee (interception/touchback) still weighs heavy on the minds of all at Franklin.(note: don't try to debate it, it was captured by three TV crews) Other years Field Goal calls have raised eyebrows (Brentwood needs to elevate their poles). Would hate to be on the crew this year! TSSAA needs to look back and make sure they rotate that crew and publicize it!

I would agree with several of the things previously stated here. First and foremost ... Offensive Line- Franklin needs to find its offensive line. It is my opinion that an offensive line is critical for a winning season. Look to the Titans or the Vols last year and for that matter Franklin's line last year compared to the two previous. The slight difference in quality made the defference between 13-2 (2004) and 8-4 (2005). Offensive lines have to gel and that may just take some time. Running Back - Well Darrien Waters 2004 #22 is a name that few know because he never got the press or hype he deserved, but on 3rd and 6 you could give him the ball with confidence. He may not have the shake and bake moves of Coker (Antioch/UT) but he has what Phillip Fulmer wants Coker to have, the ability to run over people with toughness. Franklin will be hard pressed to find another like him anytime soon. Quarterback- Matt Solima(2002 & 2003) and Michael Mikrut (2004 & 2005) both could handle themselves in the pocket and on the run. Both could lower their heads and runover people because they had played safety and linebacker. Solima a little stronger arm, both very intelligent, calm, cool, characters. You don't just grow guys like that. They don't fall off trees in Cottonwood or Fieldstone Farms you count your blessings and you work hard to develop others. Receivers- Franklin has had a long tradition of great receivers, Yuri Howard, Phillip Williams, Kevvin Murry, Ryan Nichols, Joe Bell, John Hewitt and Todd Campbell. By no means is Todd Campbell the most talented of these names IMO but rather one who has benefitted by working the system and having doors opened for him. Lets hope he has a great senior season and survives the media attention and the special attention of Region 6-5A DBs ! As long as the QB throws it high Campbell has a chance cause he's got some major ups!! Defense - Josh Frohock, Simon George, Steven Ladd, Justin Hampton, Casey Dykes are all very strong defensive players. Frankly I think they will have to have a great first half of the season to give the others time to develop! Special Teams and Defense have won plenty of games for Franklin in the past, lets hope they have a punt returner like Joe Bell or John Hewitt in the wings! Only time will tell ... what does Franklin need most ... well IMO they need Myers Parsons!!! Ps. Hunters Lane has a good back in #44 Jeremy Clay. Hard runner, low center of gravity, powerful build, particularly powerful thighs. Can run over the average tackler. Also a good Lineman in #56 Ben Brooks. Plays with intensity and intelligence. Has a good nose for the ball. Listed as 6-3 and 230. Hunters Lane looks better without the 275lb+ lineman of years gone by. They look much faster and very intense. I'd call HL and FHS about even at this point. But in past years scrimmages, HL has looked better than FHS and never been able to go as far in the playoffs. The second half of the first round 2003 playoff game between these two teams still rings fresh in my mind. If you want to know how important a good offensive line is, watch the film from that second half!!! Down 24-3 Franklin's offensive line overpowered HL Defense and won 27-24 in a classic!

OK call me stupid, but what is the purpose of letting players wear helmets? I think the answer is "to get used to the weight and to help in easing into conditioning" ... OK so what is the purpose in wearing helmets and shoulder pads? To FURTHER help in easing into the heat and conditioning! The drills are all the same, the practice schedule is all the same. While some may say Coach Rector is "unintelligent" for not knowing "THE RULE" Let me say that what Coach Rector appears to have done, practice a few days in helmets and then a few days in both helmets and shoulder pads is " better coaching" than what TSSAA is perscribing for everyone else. Lets hope that the other members of TSSAA wise up and change the rule so as to do a better job of protectng these young men from heat stroke.

It started with Jack Daniel's Brentwood having a small team back around 1997, they were extremely successful with a quick, short passing game, years later (they won state). Then came Danny Nowell's offense at Franklin (state runner-up), and now Brian Rector at Ravenwood mixes it up and wins state. I don't know how Centennial can look at that string of successes and not go to some type of spread offense. Between the three competitors over the last five years they have enough game film to build one heck of a playbook!!!

Correct, Middle Schools are not part of TSSAA, they have to wait till August 1st rather than July 31st

I think the intent of the rule is to slowly bring the players around to the conditioning factor. Particularly as it relates to adjusting to the heat. It is probably better to go three or four days with helmets and then three or four days with helmets and shoulder pads before opening up to all out full pads. The summer rule IMO should say no full pads or tackling until whatever date

Many of you know that I have been critical of the wishbone offense that Centennial has run for the past several years. In the past I didn't think it could compete against the type of offenses that Brentwood and Franklin and now Ravenwood run. While I have almost been proven wrong on two occasions, my statement has held up. Centennial came close to beating both Brentwood and Franklin, but in both cases a "fake belly dive" (classic wishbone)was just enough time for defenders to come in and cause fumbles at the point of the handoff, crushing the thrill of victory. Mose Phillips (UT Standout) has been named today in the Williamson Herald as the new OC. Phillips comes from six years of coaching at Hillsboro, who has a recent state championship under its belt and runs the Wing T. The question I look forward to seeing the answer to is will Centennial's offense change dramatically to a West Coast pass happy offense or will it be some combination of grinding it out with a wishbone, wing T combination? Whatever the case, I hope this addition to the staff brings about nail biting finishes for Centennial between the likes of Franklin, Brentwood, Ravenwood and who knows maybe even Independence this year. Good health to all, Good luck to the Rebels!

They looked alright in a passing scrimmage against Ravenwood. I'm looking forward to seeing a scrimmage before the season

I'm glad to see Coach Rankin gone. Not because of anything personal but because I hated to see one team dominate the way Riverdale has during his tenure. You could write a book ( and I'm sure someone will ) about his coaching stlye and what it takes to consistantly be that strong.... And for all we know it may continue without him... But I'd rather see a situation like what we have in Williamson County where you have Brentwood, Franklin, Ravenwood and yes even Centennial nipping at each others heals. All good coaching staffs, all hard working teams and a true coin toss as to the outcome of these games. As to predictions for 5A... Well great things are being said about Ravenwood, but I believe TC Jennings was a very special athlete that made a huge difference in the performance of that team, Daniel Becker was a beast. If Ravenwood can replace those talents they could be on top but I just think that is a long shot. Brentwood has the best coaching staff in 5A (IMO) and will mold whatever talent they have in to a contender. So don't be surprised to see them in the quarter-finals. Franklin has done well in passing scrimmages this summer and puts a lot of hopes in Todd Campbell (UT signee) and Coach Clayton's pass happy offense. Look for even better things though from the Rebel Defense which IMO will be the best in the state. Josh Frohock, Casey Dykes, Justin Hampton, Simon George and Steven Ladd all potential defensive standouts, will be names well known throughout the county by the end of the season. Riverdale and Oak Ridge are the two obvious wild cards with recent coaching changes ... look for great things from both ... but consistency could be a question And then of course we have Centennial. I can't go away with out saying something about my Cougars. I have gone back and watched more film from the past six years. I see where the delayed counter out of the wishbone has consistenly cost them big .... at really big times !!! Brentwood 4th quarter fumble for loss of game. Franklin 4th Q fumble for loss of game on Tim Leach rumble... I think with the right offense, Centennial could lead Williamson County 5A ... will they find it this year???

I'll be very curious to see what happens with Dickson County this year. They have come off of two years of "lessor teams" and the year before that they really only had two outstanding athletes in Primm RB/LB #32 and the scat back #6 that could get outside. Their historical style of 4 yards and a cloud of dust has not worked with the younger smaller roster they have appeared to have the last two years. The coaching change may have limited their abiity to attract big strong hoggies...who knows! This perrenial powerhouse needs to return to the intimidative style of Big Tough Hoggies....Hope they are working in the wieght room!!

I think these are excellent picks in 5A - All of these programs are proven winners. Wild Card for me would be Wilson Central rather than Smyrna. Region 6 is always a tough fight between Brentwood , Franklin and Ravenwood with the point diference in all those games being less than a field goal. So much of being consistantly strong rests with the coaching system and in the names mentioned above you have just that. Melrose and Maryville are certainly names that stand out in 4A. What has Red Bank done post Riggs? Henry Co. had a huge come back the last two years so the wild card there is a great pick!

I was surprised when he signed with ND having seen him play. I commented at the time that I thought he had worked the system ( Gone to all the camps and clinics to get the exposure) as well as he could, and that with decent numbers and the prototype build he would get noticed .... I was just surprised by whom! The good thing is that this was time well spent. He was exposed to a great system and as they say in Rudy ..Hung in with the best program in the country. I believe it will serve him well and that he will take the experience and build from it. Congratulations and continued sucess!!

You have to start with the end in mind. If you have 6 players out of a 45 man roster who test positive for... lets say marijuana. If the school didn't pay for the tests (The Booster Club did) who has rights to the results. If the Coach asks that the results be withheld from the administration is he within his rights to ask? Do the parents have the rights to the results if the 18 yr old doesn't want them to? What about HIPPA? More importantly what does the coach do about the 6 kids? Kick them off the team? Suspend them from the team and send them to rehab? Turn them over to administration? Can the results of the test be made public information? Can the coach tell the press we had six kids fail a drug screen but not give names?

Some Team from Williamson County!!

Michael Mikrut Franklin HS QB will be there. Took his team to the 5A State Championshio game as a junior, Quarter Finals as a Senior. He was the # 1 passer in Middle TN this past year... close to the top his junior year.... great kid for a great school: Name School ATT CMP YDS TD 2PT Michael Mikrut Franklin 228 122 2314 21 0

I got to the match a little late, it was 3-3. While I probably missed some good scoring, there was plenty left to see! These two teams were as evenly matched as they come, with action running the entire length of the field all afternoon long. Neither team was willing to quit. Franklin went up 6-5 with an announced 4 minutes to play and then just as you started to wonder whether the match wasn't over, the officials called out "one minute to play." As Franklin tried to kill play in their offensive end with Taylor Malone #5 running around ,Centennial seemed to pick up their pace and quickly stripped Malone, went the length of the field with three quick passes, and scored, locking the match at 6! Overtime gave both teams opportunities but it was Andrew Slemp #22, making up for being offsides earlier, who scored the winning goal for the Rebels.

Try to spend a little less time on the weights and a litle more time with the New York Times Crossword puzzle, thus improving your vocabulary, and your ability to articulate!

From the Tennessean: Vanderbilt signee Jessica Mooney finished with a game-high 16 points. But Mooney, the District 11-AAA regular-season MVP, hit just 4-of-24 from the field. Franklin's defense (Shavonna Cannon) caused complete disruption to Hillsboro's game. While Holland and Adams played great the paper failed to mention the play of Ginny St. Lawrence, which I thought was critical in the third qurter. The paper says she only had 8 points, seemed like 20. She must have made all 4 buckets within about 6 trips up the floor and they came at a critical time. In both Brentwood and Hillsboro games, freethrows down the stretch were huge!

Derek Batt did a great job defending against Daniel Becker. Ravenwood's inside game was not there and Ravenwood's 3 pt shooting was off because of the tremendous defense by Franklin. Franklin's bench allows players to go all out in two minute bursts, where Ravenwood's depth is not there. TC Jennings missed more "double iron" 3 pt shots than I can ever remember seeing in one game. Some of those go and it would have been a different ballgame.

Mikrut will probably go to Campbellsville, KY, which I think he will love. My guess is that Franklin will look hard to find someone wanting to "move into the county" to play QB next year.

Walking the halls of NDHS, back in the day, I used to hear so much about Pistol Pez. Many years later I heard he was in the hospital here in Nashville. Having never meet him, I went by to visit him and simply introduced myself as a ND grad and a lover of HS wrestling.... we visited for two hours and I quickly learned why he was loved by so many!

According to the book written about the 100 years of BGA football, Franklin and BGA have never played football against each other. I did some digging around in the Review Appeal microfiche and found where Franklin's JV played BGA's JV back in the 1930s. Wouldn't that be a great tradition to see broken!